On which Dr. Johnson observes, "The word _will_ is here ambiguous. He wishes to _gain_ her _will_; she tells him, if he wants her _will_ he has it." The learned critic seems to have mistaken the sense of the word _compass_, when he says it means _to gain_. If it did, his remark would be just. But to _compass_ in this place signifies, to _perform_, _accomplish_, _take measures for doing a thing_. Thus in _Twelfth night_, Act I. Scene 2, "that were hard to _compass_;" and in _1 Hen._ VI. Act V. Scene 5, "You judge it impossible to _compass_ wonders." Accordingly Sylvia proceeds to instruct Proteus _how_ he may perform her will. _Wish_ and _will_ are here used, as in many other places, though inaccurately, as synonymous. If however Shakspeare really designed to make Proteus say that he was desirous of _gaining_ Sylvia's good will, she must be supposed, in her reply, purposely to mistake his meaning. SCENE 2. Page 260. SIL. But since your falshood shall _become_ you well To worship shadows, and adore false shapes. Dr. Johnson objects to the sense of this passage, and the other commentators offer conjectural interpretations; yet surely nothing is more clear than the sense, and even the grammar may be defended. It is simply, "since your falsehood shall _adapt or render you fit_ to worship shadows." _Become_ here answers to the Latin _convenire_, and is used according to its genuine Saxon meaning. SCENE 2. Page 260. HOST. By my HALLIDOM, I was fast asleep. This Mr. Ritson explains, _by my holy doom_, or _sentence at the resurrection_, from the Saxon halɩᵹꝺom; but the word does not appear to have had such a meaning. It rather signifies holiness or honesty. It likewise denoted a sacrament, a sanctuary, relics of saints, or anything holy. It seems in later times to have been corrupted into _holidame_, as if it expressed the holy virgin. Thus we have _so help me God and hollidame_. See Bullein's _Book of the use of sicke men_, 1579, in folio, fo. 2 b. SCENE 4. Page 270. JUL. But since she did neglect her looking-glass, And threw her _sun-expelling mask_ away. It was the fashion at this time for the ladies to wear masks, which are thus described by the puritanical Stubs in his _Anatomie of abuses_, 1595, 4to, p. 59. "When they use to ride abroad they have _masks and visors made of velvet_ wherewith they cover all their faces, having holes made in them against their eyes, whereout they looke. So that if a man that knew not their guise before, should chaunce to meet one of them, he would think he met a monster or a Devil, for face he can shew (see) none, but two broad holes against their eyes, with glasses in them." More will be said on the subject of this mode of disguising the female face in a remark on _The merry wives of Windsor_, Act IV. Scene 2. SCENE 4. Page 271.